Improvement in combined dating and canceling stamp



2 Sheets-Sheen}. O. ARMSTRONG, R. G. WOODWARD 8L L MUTHER.. Combined Dating and Canceling Stamps No. 210,286. Patented Nov. 26,1878.

ON- D. C.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0-. ARMSTRONG, R. G. WOODWARD & L' MUTHER... Combined Dating and Canceling Stamps.

No. 210,286. Patented Nov. 26,1878} J \M, e 9

WI/mm)? Q M N.FETERS, PNDTO LITlIOGRAPHE R. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ARMSTRONG, RUSSELL G. WOODWARD, AND LORENZ MUTHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID WVOODVVARD ASSIGNOR TO E. P. \VEBER, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED DATING AND CANCELING STAMP;

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,286, dated November 26, 1878 application filed May 7', 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES ARMSTRONG, RUSSELL G. WOODWARD, and LORENZ MU- THER, all of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Combined Dating and Canceling Stamp, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents an exterior perspective view of the instrument embodying our improvements; Fig. 2, Sheet 1, represents a transverse sectional view on a line through the canceling-stamp and handle; Fig. 3, Sheet 1, a sectional plan on line 00 0c Fig. 4, Sheet 1, a cross-section through the stamp-plunger and through one of the inking-pads; Fig. 5, Sheet 1, an elevation of the plunger, showing the locking device for the removable types Fig. 6, Sheet 2, represents a sectional plan of the inking-pad-rotating wheels and their drivinggear; and Fig. 7, Sheet 2, a face elevation of the double stamp and of the stamp-defacing device.

The nature of our invention relates to an instrument for the effectual cancellation of postage-stamps and the printing of name of office and date of mailing on letters, packages, and other mailable matter, and particularly to that class of such stamps in which the canceling and printing plungers are revolved, and are so arranged that while at rest their faces are turned upward against the ink-pads, but when pushed downward theywill turn one-half of a revolution and will bring their full faces into contact with the object to be stamped.

Our invention consists of certain improvements and attachments in and to such stamps, as described in the following specification and designated by'the claims.

In the drawings, A is the bearing-frame, composed of a cap-plate, a, as a connection between two vertical end plates, B, and an intermediate vertical plate, b, and of the central vertical stud c. This bearing-frame A is to be seated upon the object to be stamped and canceled, and is to hold the ink-pads and stampdefacing mechanism, while at the same time it supports and guides the stamping-plan ger and handle-head. I

D is the handle, which has a'socket for the stud 0 of frame A to enter into and assist in guiding the same, a coil-spring, (I, being placed in said socket, between the bottom of said socket and the end of stud c, to automatically elevate said handle and its appending parts again after each downstroke of the same. The bottom end of said handleD has aflixed a projecting screw-threaded thimble, by which it is secured upon the center of the head E, having rectangular end plates 6, which embrace the frame A and guide said head in its vertical reciprocatin g motion.

F is an auxiliary frame forholding the stampdefacing mechanism, consisting of two end plates, f, which are adjustably secured against the edges of one of the end plates B and the intermediate plate I) of frame A by screws tapped therein and passed through vertically oblong holes in plates f, so as to admit of a vertical adjustment. These plates fare rigidly connected by two vertical cross-plates, v, between which, upon a common fulcrum-pin, are pivoted two pair of wheels, each pair consisting of a larger wheel, G, having sharp serrations or saw-teeth on its periphery, and of a smaller wheel, g, united therewith, and having ratchet-teeth on its periphery. The teeth of the wheels G are to penetrate the surface of the stamp, and then to be rotated in opposite directions, so as to out, tear, and deface the postage-stamp, motion being imparted thereto by a spring-pawl, h, engaging with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel g, and attached to a lever, H, sleeved with one end upon the common fulcrum-pin of wheels G g, and actuated by the downward Stroke of the handle I) by rods t, connecting the exterior ends of levers H with the handle-head E at opposite sides.

Small spring-pawls a", one end of each of which being fixed to the frame F, while their opposite ends engage with the ratchet-teeth of wheels y, will permit a rotation of said wheels only in one direction.

As will be noticed, by this arrangement cf both Wheels Gr placed side to side and turning in opposite directions after their teeth have penetrated the stamp to be canceled, the same will be cut and defaced in the most thorough manner, making its reuse impossible; and the auxiliary frame F, into which these defacingwheels are pivoted, being arranged for verti cal adjustment, these wheels G can be regulated to project just enough beyond the bottom ends of plates 13 I) of frame A that they will cut the stamp without cuttin or tearin the envelope or wrapper of the letter or pack age.

I is the double plunger, having the stampfaces i and i, the former of which is to print the name of the post-office and the time of mailing, while the latter is slotted out, so as to keep clear of and not to interfere with the erasingwvhecls G and their frame F, and to cross-mark or blot the ends of the postagestamp. The ends of this plunger I are pivoted to and between the lower ends of end plates c of head E by screws J tapped into said plun ger, and with their shanks moving in vertical slots in end plates 13 of bearing-frame A, so as to be guided therein. This plunger I, while being pushed downward with handle 1) and head E, is caused to rotate onehalf of a revolution by having acam-shaped flange to one end engaging with a series of pins or cogs" on the interior face of one of the vertical plates B, which being an old device, we do not find necessary to explain more specifically.

The stamp-face 13 carries around its edge in raised letters the name of the post-office, while the date of the month and the hour of mailing are imprinted by removable typesj, fitting into a slot or hole cut through the plunger at the middle of said stamp-face 2', each of which types is shouldered at its rear end for preventing its dropping out of said slot and for gaging its distance of projection ofl the stampi'ace, and these types are held in position by a cap-plate or latch, K, pivoted to the plunger at one end, and having a segmental slot at its opposite end,which, by being turned over the types, will engage with the shank of a screw, '10, tapped into said plunger I, and having a crank -handle to its head, which, on being turned, will depress and lock said latch tight upon the type ends.

The inking-pads are attached to the under side of plate a on bearing-frame A, and are arranged so as to receive a short rotating motion with each stroke of the stamping-plun ger, to prevent the types on the faces of the stamps meeting the same spot on the pads twice in succession, whereby the supply of ink will be more uniform.

L L are two gear-wheels, pivoted against the under side of said plate a by bolts or screws I, said wheels being of such a diameter that their peripheries will touch and their teeth will interlock, so that the rotation of one wheel will cause the other wheel to turn in the opposite direction. Each'of these wheels L has an exterior] y screw-threaded annular rim to its under side, which forms a cup, to be filled with sponge-shavings or other porous elastic material, saturated with ink through an opening, 3 in plate a, and a corresponding hole, Y, through wheel L. An internally screw-threaded ring, M, having a serrated flange for turning it by, is screwed upon the annular rim of wheel L, each ring M having stretched over its end a piece of chamois-skin, 2, by a band, m, holding its edges over the rim of ring M. This skin being in contact with the sponge, it will be resisted thereby, which resistance can be compensated by screwing the ring M more or less over the rim of wheel L.

Motion is imparted to these wheels L, and the inking-pads attached thereto, by a bar, N, passed through eyes a a, projecting from the edge of plate a of the bearing-frame A, so as to .have a lateral sliding motion therein; and the ends of this bar N are grooved and abut against tapering guide-plates O O, which are secured against the edges of the end plates 0 of head E, so that their guiding-edges are parallel with each other and an gnlar with the sides of the frame, whereby a vertical reciprocatin g motion of the head B will impart a horizontal reciprocating movement to said bar N. A spring-pawl, 1), which, being secured with one end against the side of bar N, while its opposite end engages with the teeth of one of the wheels L, will compel said wheels and the inking-pads attached thereto to make a short turn with each stroke of the plunger; and spring-pawl 8, attached to the plate a of frame A, will permit a rotation to said wheels only in one direction.

The above-described instrument, as will be noticed, is so combined and arranged that its motions are positive, and that it will not casil y wear out or get out of order.

Vhat we claim as our invention is- 1. The combination of a pivoted slotted plunger and two saw-toothed wheels in a separate frame, rotated by ratchet-s operated by the depression of the handle, which wheels are pivoted side by side and move in opposite directions, whereby the stamp is printed upon and a narrow slit is torn or cut out, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the pivoted slotted plunger I and the saw-toothed wheels G in a separate frame, for the purpose of canceling a stamp by printing as well as by tearing into a portion, and the mailing-plunger, all these parts being operated by the handle, whereby a letter is properly stamped for the mail and the postage-stamp erased by the same movement of the handle, substantially as described.

3. The herein described inking-pad, consisting of an exteriorly screw-threaded cup filled with porous material, in combination with the internally screw-threaded ring M, holding a piece of skin or other suitable material, z, by means of a band, m, all of which being constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The frame A and the inking-pad-carry ing wheels L L, pivoted thereto, the guide eyes a for bar N, with pawl 19, in combination with the handle-head E, having guides O, the whole of which being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

tion with the ring M, skin covering 2, and' band m, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The herein described inking pads attached to wheels, which are pivoted to bearingfralne plate at, having eyes a for bar N, and pawl 19, in combination with the handle I) and head E, carrying the revolving plunger, and having guides 0, all of which being constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown.

7. The herein-described combined dating and canceling stamp, wherein are combined a dating and a canceling pivoted slotted printing -plunger, with typeholding faces, two toothed wheels, in a separate frame, for further canceling the stamp, all operated by the same movement of the handle, in connection with inking-pads and proper frame-work, all the several parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

CHARLES ARMSTRONG. RUSSELL G. WOODVVARD. LORENZ MUTHER.

Witnesses:

JACOB RICHTER, EMIL H. FROMMANN. 

